AN ANALYSIS OF CONTINUED OPERATION OF SELECTED AIRPORT TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWERS (ATCT)

This report evaluates the merits of continued operation of existing FAA airport traffic control towers using the benefit-cost technique. Considered are airport safety and efficiency benefits as well as the costs of continued facility operation and of dismantling and relocation. The analysis identifies 73 current tower locations as not worthy of continued operation on economic grounds. Only nine sites are selected as candidates for decommissioning when using existing noneconomic discontinuance criteria. The study is divided into three parts. Part A describes the detailed benefit-cost rationale and methodology. Part B provides an historical account of the evolution of tower establishment and discontinuance criteria. Part C examines the impact of uneconomical tower locations identified by the benefit-cost analysis, i.e., those sites where costs of continued tower operation exceed benefits. This part also offers several alternative options for formulating an agency policy for discontinuing tower operations. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Office of Aviation System Plans, 800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • ZAIDMAN, S
• Publication Date: 1977-6

Media Info

• Pagination: 75 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Airport control towers; Airports; Analysis; Aviation safety; Benefit cost analysis; Costs; Economics; Impact studies; Needs assessment; Systems analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost analysis; Criteria; Removal; User needs
• Old TRIS Terms: Air traffic control system analysis; Airport safety; Control tower cabs; Cost benefits
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Economics; Finance; Operations and Traffic Management; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00175377
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FAA-ASP-77-6 Draft Rpt.
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: May 31 1978 12:00AM